U.S. patent number 8,473,015 [Application Number 12/845,928] was granted by the patent office on 2013-06-25 for stopper device for sliding swing type portable communication device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Pil-Je Cho, Young-Woo Huh, Won-Tae Kim, Sang-Joon Park. Invention is credited to Pil-Je Cho, Young-Woo Huh, Won-Tae Kim, Sang-Joon Park.
United States Patent |
8,473,015 |
Kim , et al. |
June 25, 2013 |
Stopper device for sliding swing type portable communication
device
Abstract
Provided is a stopper device for a sliding swing type portable
communication device, in which a stopper is made up of a small
number of parts capable of restricting the swinging operation after
sliding operation as well as the sliding operation after the swing
operation. The stopper device includes a body housing and a sliding
housing opened or closed by sliding or swinging in relation to the
body housing, a first sliding member coupled to the sliding
housing, a second sliding member coupled to the first sliding
member to enable the first sliding member to slide, a swing member
coupled to the body housing, installed between the first and second
sliding members, to allow the first and second sliding members to
swing, and a stopper unit provided to each member, restricting the
swinging of the sliding housing when the sliding housing slides and
the sliding of the sliding housing when the sliding housing swings
before sliding.
Inventors: |
Kim; Won-Tae (Gyeonggi-do,
KR), Park; Sang-Joon (Seoul, KR), Cho;
Pil-Je (Gyeonggi-do, KR), Huh; Young-Woo
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kim; Won-Tae
Park; Sang-Joon
Cho; Pil-Je
Huh; Young-Woo |
Gyeonggi-do
Seoul
Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do |
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
KR
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
43605789 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/845,928 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110045879 A1 |
Feb 24, 2011 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 19, 2009 [KR] |
|
|
10-2009-0076825 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/575.3;
455/575.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/0237 (20130101); H04M 1/0227 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/575.1,575.3,575.4,90.3 ;379/433.01,433.11,433.12,433.13,440
;361/724,727 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Vo; Nguyen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cha & Reiter, LLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A stopper device for a sliding swing type portable communication
device having a body housing and a sliding housing opened or closed
by sliding or swinging motion, comprising: a first sliding member
coupled to the sliding housing; a second member coupled to the
first sliding member to enable the first sliding member to slide; a
swing member, having at least a part thereof disposed between the
first and second members, coupled to the body housing to enable the
first and second members to swing; and a stopper member interfacing
with each of the first sliding member, the second member and the
swing member, to restrict the swinging of the sliding housing when
the sliding housing slides and restricting the sliding of the
sliding housing when the sliding housing swings before sliding.
2. The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein: the first
sliding member includes first and second guide rails on opposite
sides thereof which are slidably coupled with guide ribs formed on
the second member; and the first guide rail is wider than the
second guide rail.
3. The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein: the first
sliding member and the second member have a first elastic member
installed therebetween to provide an elastic force to slide the
first sliding member; and the first sliding member and the second
member have a second elastic member installed therebetween to
provide an elastic force to swing the first sliding member and the
second member.
4. The stopper device according to claim 1, wherein: the stopper
member has a disc shape.
5. The stopper device according to claim 4, wherein the stopper
member has a first stopper contact face comprising a linear shape
where the stopper member is partly cut off.
6. The stopper device according to claim 5, wherein: the stopper
member has a second stopper contact face comprising a circular
shape.
7. The stopper device according to claim 6, wherein the stopper
member provides a clicked sensation during operation.
8. The stopper device of claim 1, wherein the first sliding member
includes first and second guide rails on opposite sides thereof
which are slidably coupled with guide ribs formed on the second
member.
9. A stopper device for a sliding swing type portable communication
device having a body housing and a sliding housing opened or closed
by sliding or swinging motion, comprising: a first sliding member
coupled to the sliding housing; a second member coupled to the
first sliding member to enable the first sliding member to slide; a
swing member, having at least a part thereof disposed between the
first and second members, coupled to the body housing to enable the
first and second members to swing; and a stopper member interfacing
with each of the first sliding member, the second member and the
swing member, to restrict the swinging of the sliding housing when
the sliding housing slides and restricting the sliding of the
sliding housing when the sliding housing swings before sliding;
wherein the swing member comprises: a swing plate coupled to the
body housing; a rotary member fixedly coupled to the second member
and swinging together with the first sliding member and the second
member; and a rotary washer installed between the second member and
the rotary member.
10. The stopper device according to claim 9, wherein the rotary
member includes at least one coupling protrusion fitted into holes
formed in the second member and the rotary washer.
11. The stopper device according to claim 9, wherein the stopper
member is a first stopper member, and the stopper device further
including: a stopper recess formed in the first sliding member; the
first stopper member is fixedly fastened to the swing plate,
separated from the stopper recess when the sliding housing slides
or swings to restrict the sliding or swinging of the sliding
housing; and a second stopper member formed on the second member
and in the swing plate so as to restrict the swinging of the
sliding housing.
12. The stopper device according to claim 11, wherein the stopper
recess has a semispherical shape.
13. The stopper device according to claim 11, wherein: the first
stopper member includes a first stopper contact face on one face
thereof, which is contacted with and guided along a first guide
rail of the first sliding member when the sliding housing slides
and restricts the swinging of the sliding housing; and the first
stopper member includes a second stopper contact face on an outer
circumference thereof, which is inserted into the stopper recess
when the sliding housing swings and restricts the sliding of the
sliding housing.
14. The stopper device according to claim 11, wherein the second
stopper members includes: a stopper knob formed in the second
member; and a guide stopper slot formed in the swing plate, guiding
and contacting the stopper knob, and restricting the swinging of
the sliding housing.
15. The stopper device according to claim 11, wherein the second
member includes a stopper, which is detachably coupled with a
detachable protrusion protruding from the outer circumference of
the first stopper member when reaching at a swing initial position
of the sliding housing, restricting the swinging of the sliding
housing.
16. The stopper device according to claim 11, wherein the first
stopper member includes: at least one fastening protrusion fastened
to a fastening hole formed in the swing plate; and screw holes that
are located adjacent to the fastening protrusion and screwed to
screw holes formed in the swing plate.
17. A sliding swing type portable communication device having a
body housing and a sliding housing opened or closed by sliding or
swinging motion, comprising: a first sliding member coupled to the
sliding housing; a second member coupled to the first sliding
member to enable the first sliding member to slide; a swing member,
having at least a part thereof disposed between the first and
second members, coupled to the body housing to enable the first and
second members to swing; and a stopper member interfacing with each
of the first sliding member, the second member and the swing
member, to restrict the swinging of the sliding housing when the
sliding housing slides and restricting the sliding of the sliding
housing when the sliding housing swings before sliding.
18. The portable communication device of claim 17, wherein the
first sliding member includes first and second guide rails on
opposite sides thereof which are slidably coupled with guide ribs
formed on the second member.
19. The portable communication device of claim 17, wherein the
swing member comprises: a swing plate coupled to the body housing;
a rotary member fixedly coupled to the second member and swinging
together with the first and second members; and a rotary washer
installed between the second member and the rotary member.
20. The portable communication device of claim 17, wherein the
stopper member has a disc-like shape with a first stopper contact
face in a linear shape where the first stopper member is partly cut
off.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application claims priority to an application entitled
"Stopper Device for Sliding Swing Type Portable Communication
Device" filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug.
19, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0076825, the contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stopper device for a sliding
swing type portable communication device, in which a stopper
comprise of small components to restrict a swing operation after
sliding operation as well as the sliding operation after the swing
operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a "portable communication device" refers to an
electronic device that a user can carry around to perform wireless
communication with a desired party. In consideration of
portability, the design of such a portable communication device
must be compact, slim, hand-held, and light, but also capable of
increasing the use of multimedia having various functions. In
future, portable communication devices will be used for many other
functions and purposes for various multimedia or Internet
environments.
The portable communication devices are typically classified into a
bar-type, a flip-type, or a folder-type. Further, the portable
communication devices are also classified into a neck wearable-type
or a wrist wearable-type according to wearing position or method.
In addition, the portable communication devices are also classified
into a swing-type or a sliding-type according to opening/closing
method.
Such conventional portable communication devices are designed to
allow for a voice communication function as well as a high-speed
data communication function. A camera function is incorporated in
the portable communication device, so that it is possible to
transmit an image signal. Such a device is provided with a camera
lens module of an internal or external type, so that is possible to
perform image communication visually or to photograph a desired
subject.
Currently, it is inconvenient to watch a video or a television (TV)
through the portable communication device. This is because, in the
case of a TV watching mode or a video watching mode, a wider
display screen is required for a display device through which
information is displayed.
Recent portable communication devices allow the display device to
be moved and then swung. For example, the sliding swing device of
the conventional portable communication device is disclosed in
detail in Korean Patent No. 0681068, which has been filed and
granted by the present applicant. It discloses a body housing, a
sliding housing sliding facing the body housing and then rotated,
first and second hinge frames, first and second plates, a slide
bar, and coupling means. However, it has a drawback in that the
sliding housing is rotated regardless of the intention of a user in
the state where the sliding housing slides. Another drawback in
that the sliding housing slides irrespective of the intention of a
user in the state where the sliding housing is slid and swung.
To overcome these drawbacks, a separate locking device composed of
a plurality of parts must be installed in the portable
communication device. Thus, due to an increase in the number of
parts, the number of processes of assembling the portable
communication device is increased which in turn increases the
production cost.
Accordingly, there is a need for a portable communication device
with a small number of parts capable of restricting swing operation
during sliding as well as sliding operation during swinging
modes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the
above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art and provides
additional advantages, by providing a stopper used in a sliding
swing type portable communication device, in which the stopper is
made up of a small number of parts for restricting swing operation
after sliding operation as well as the sliding operation after the
swing operation, thereby minimizing components of a product to
improve an assembling process, reducing the cost of production,
facilitating the sliding or swing operation for a sliding housing
of the portable device, and improving sliding or swing operation of
the terminal.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a sliding
swing type portable communication device includes a body housing,
and a sliding housing opened or closed by sliding or swinging of
the body housing, and a stopper device. The stopper device
includes: a first sliding member coupled to the sliding housing; a
second sliding member coupled to the first sliding member, for
allowing the first sliding member to slide; a swing member coupled
to the body housing, installed between the first and second sliding
members, and allowing the first and second sliding members to
swing; and a stopper unit provided to each member, restricting the
swing of the sliding housing when the sliding housing slides and
the sliding of the sliding housing when the sliding housing swings
before sliding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
configuration of a stopper device for a sliding swing type portable
communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating the
configuration of a stopper device according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating first and
second sliding members in the configuration of a stopper device
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a swing member
in the configuration of a stopper device according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the state before the
sliding operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view illustrating the state before the sliding
operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the state after the
sliding operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view illustrating the state after the sliding
operation of a stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the swing operation of a
stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of part A of FIG. 9;
and
FIG. 11 is a top plan view illustrating the sliding operation of a
stopper device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
following description, the same elements will be designated by the
same reference numerals although they are shown in different
drawings. Further, various specific definitions found in the
following description, such as specific values of packet
identifications, contents of displayed information, etc., are
provided only to help general understanding of the present
invention, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the
present invention can be implemented without such definitions. For
the purposes of clarity and simplicity, a detailed description of
known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be
omitted as it may make the subject matter of the present invention
unclear.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 11, a stopper device for a sliding
swing type portable communication device includes a body housing
10, a sliding housing 20, first and second sliding members 30 and
40, a swing member 50, and a stopper unit 60. The body housing 10
is configured to slide or swing the sliding housing 20, and the
sliding housing 20 is installed on an upper face of the body
housing 10 so as to be opened or closed by sliding or swinging
motion with respect to the body housing 10. The first sliding
member 30 is screwed to the sliding housing 20 so as to be slidably
coupled with the second sliding member 40, which will be described
below. The second sliding member 40 is coupled with the first
sliding member 30 so as to be able to slide the first sliding
member 30. The swing member 50 is coupled to the body housing 10 so
as to be able to swing the first and second sliding members 30 and
40, and parts of the swing member 50 is interposed between the
first and second sliding members 30 and 40. The stopper unit 60 is
provided to the first and second sliding members 30 and 40 and the
swing member 50 so as to restrict the swinging of the sliding
housing 20 during sliding as well as the sliding of the sliding
housing 20 during swinging before sliding.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first sliding member 30 is
provided with first and second guide rails 31 and 32 on opposite
sides thereof which are slidably coupled with guide ribs 41 formed
on the second sliding member 40. The first guide rail 31 is wider
than the second guide rail 32 so as to be able to integrally form a
stopper recess 61, which will be described below.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first elastic member 70 is
installed between the first and second sliding members 30 and 40 to
provide an elastic force to the first sliding member 30 so as to be
able to slide the first sliding member 30. One end of the first
elastic member 70 is fastened to the first sliding member 30, and
the other end of the first elastic member 70 is fastened to the
second sliding member 40. A second elastic member 80 is installed
between the first and second sliding members 30 and 40 to provide
an elastic force to the first and second sliding members 30 and 40
so as to be able to slide the first and second sliding members 30
and 40. One end of the second elastic member 80 is fastened to the
second sliding member 40, and the other end of the second elastic
member 80 is fastened to a first stopper member 62, which will be
described below.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, the swing member 50 includes
a swing plate 51, a rotary member 52, and a rotary washer 53. The
swing plate 51 is coupled to the body housing 10 so as to be
fixedly fastened to the first stopper member 62, which will be
described below. The rotary member 52 is fixedly fitted into a hole
formed in the second sliding member 40, and faces the first stopper
member 62 so as to be swung together with the first and second
sliding members 30 and 40 when swinging the first and second
sliding members 30 and 40. The rotary washer 53 is installed
between the second sliding member 40 and the rotary member 52 so as
to support rotation of the rotary member 52. The rotary member 52
is provided with at least one coupling protrusion 52a so as to be
fitted into the holes 42 and 53a formed in the second sliding
member 40 and the rotary washer 53.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, the stopper unit 60 includes
a stopper recess 61 and first and second stopper members 62 and 63.
The stopper recess 61 is integrally formed with the first sliding
member 30 so as to be detachably coupled with the first stopper
member 62. The first stopper member 62 is fixedly fastened to the
swing plate 51 so as to be separated from the stopper recess 61
when the sliding housing 20 slides or swings to restrict the
sliding or swing of the sliding housing 20. The second stopper
members 63 are formed on the second sliding member 40 and in the
swing plate 51 so as to restrict the swinging of the sliding
housing 20.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 11, the stopper recess 61 has a
semispherical shape, and the first stopper member 62 has a disc
shape. The first stopper member 62 is provided with a first stopper
contact face 62a on one face thereof which is contacted with and
guided along the first guide rail 31 of the first sliding member 30
when the sliding housing 20 slides so as to restrict the swing of
the sliding housing 20.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 11, the first stopper member 62
is provided with a second contact face 62b on an outer
circumference thereof so as to be inserted into the stopper recess
61 when the sliding housing 20 swings to thereby restrict the
sliding of the sliding housing 20. The first contact face 62a has a
linear shape where the stopper member 62 is partly cut off.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, the second stopper contact
face 62b has a circular shape. The second stopper members 63 are
divided into a stopper knob 63a and a guide stopper slot 63b. The
stopper knob 63a is formed in the second sliding member 40 so as to
swing along the guide stopper slot 63b, which will be described
below, when the sliding housing 20 swings. The guide stopper slot
63b is formed in the swing plate 51 so as to guide and contact the
stopper knob 63a to thereby restrict the swing of the sliding
housing 20.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 11, the second sliding member 40
is provided with a stopper click stop 90, which is detachably
coupled with a detachable protrusion 62e protruding from the outer
circumference of the first stopper member 62 when reaching at a
swing initial position of the sliding housing 20, and not only
restricts the swing of the sliding housing 20 but also provides a
clicked feeling.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first stopper member 62 is
provided with at least one fastening protrusion 62c so as to be
fastened to a fastening hole 51a formed in the swing plate 51. The
first stopper member 62 is provided with screw holes 62d that are
located adjacent to the fastening protrusion 62c and are screwed to
screw holes 51b formed in the swing plate 51.
Note that the teachings of the present invention may be applicable
to various portable communication devices, such as a flip-type, a
folder-type, a bar-type, a sliding type, a sliding swing type
depending on external geometry or its operating modes.
A sliding swing type portable communication device according has
been representatively shown for illustrative purposes, but should
not limit the scope of present invention. Examples of the portable
communication device may include all information communication
appliances or duplex systems, such as portable multimedia players,
MP3 players, digital broadcasting players, person digital
assistants, smart phones, and so one, multimedia appliances, and
applications thereof, including all mobile communication terminals
operated based on communication protocols corresponding to various
communication systems.
Now, the operation of the stopper device for the sliding swing type
portable communication device, having the aforementioned
configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be described in greater details with reference to
FIGS. 1 through 11.
Referring back to FIGS. 1 through 4, the sliding swing type
portable communication device includes the body housing 10 having a
keypad 11, the sliding housing 20 having a display device 21, the
first and second sliding members 30 and 40, the swing member 50,
and the stopper unit 60.
In this state, at least one coupling protrusion 52a formed on the
rotary member 52 of the swing member 50 is fitted into the hole 53a
formed in the rotary washer 53. Then, the coupling protrusion 52a
is fitted into the hole 42 formed in the second sliding member
40.
The rotary member 52 faces the first stopper member 62 and is
rotatably coupled to the first stopper member 62.
Here, the detachable protrusion 62e protruding from the outer
circumference of the first stopper member 62 is coupled to the
stopper click stop 90 formed on the second sliding member 40.
The first and second guide rails 31 and 32 formed on the opposite
sides of the first sliding member 30 are slidably coupled to the
guide ribs 41 formed on the second sliding member 40.
Here, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first elastic member 70
providing an elastic force so as to be able to slide the first
sliding member 30 is installed between the first and second sliding
members 30 and 40. The second elastic member 80 providing an
elastic force so as to be able to swing first and second sliding
members 30 and 40 is installed between the first and second sliding
members 30 and 40.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the swing plate 51 is located under the
second sliding member 40. The fastening protrusion 62c formed on
the first stopper member 62 is fastened to the fastening hole 51a
formed in the swing plate 51.
The first stopper member 62 has the screw holes 62d, which are
located adjacent to the fastening protrusion 62c and are screwed to
screw holes 51b formed in the swing plate 51.
The screw holes 62d are screwed with screws (not shown), the first
stopper member 62 is fixedly fastened to the swing plate 51.
Here, the stopper knob 63a formed on the second sliding member 40
is in contact with the guide stopper slot 63b formed in the swing
plate 51.
In this state, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8, when a user
slides the sliding housing 20 on the body housing 10, the guide
rails 31 and 32 of the first sliding member 30 slides along the
guide ribs 41 of the second sliding member 40.
At this time, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first stopper
contact face 62a of the first stopper member 62 is guided along the
first guide rail 31, thereby restricting the swing of the sliding
housing 20. The first stopper member 62 is separated from the
stopper recess 61 formed in the first sliding member 30.
Here, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the user slides the
sliding housing 20 again, the sliding housing 20 returns to its
original position so as to face the body housing 10.
At this time, the first sliding member 30 having the stopper recess
61 slides together with the sliding housing, then the stopper
recess 61 faces the first stopper member 62.
In this state, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, when the user
swings the sliding housing 20, the first and second sliding members
and the stopper click stop 90 swing together with the sliding
housing 20.
At this time, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, the detachable
protrusion 62e formed on the first stopper member 62 is separated
from the stopper click stop 90.
As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the stopper knob 63a formed on
the second sliding member 40 is guided and swung along the guide
stopper slot 63b formed in the swing plate 51, and comes into
contact with the opposite end of the stopper slot 61, thereby
restricting the swing motion.
At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the first sliding member
30 and the stopper recess 61 (part of the first sliding member 30)
are swung together, and thus the second stopper contact face 62b of
the first stopper member 62 is inserted into the stopper recess
61.
In this state, when the sliding housing 20 is swung, its sliding
movement is restricted.
Here, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the user swings the
sliding housing 20 again so as to face the body housing 10, the
first and second sliding members 30 and 40 and the rotary member 52
swing together.
At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the sliding housing 20
reaches its initial position, the detachable protrusion 62e of the
first stopper member 62 is inserted into the stopper click stop 90,
thereby providing a clicked feeling. The stopper recess 61 of the
first sliding member 30 faces the first stopper contact face
62a.
Further, the stopper knob 63a of the second sliding member 40 is
guided and swung along the guide stopper slot 63b, and comes into
contact with one end of the guide stopper slot 63b, thereby
restricting the swing of the sliding housing 20.
In this manner, the stopper unit 60 restricts the swinging of the
sliding housing 20 when the sliding housing 20 slides, as well as
the sliding of the sliding housing 20 when the sliding housing 20
swings before sliding, so that it is possible to easily slide and
swing the product, particularly the sliding housing.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to
certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *